Americans consume an average of 56 gallons of soft drinks per year. One "regular" soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories per serving, 50mg caffeine and contains all types of carcinogenic toxins for flavoring, color and added shelf life. And before you say this does not apply to you because you consume "diet" sodas, you are worse off still, particularly when there are those of you who think you will lose weight drinking 3-6 "diet" sodas daily instead of attaining proper nutrients from food – how much weight have you lost? Have you kept it off? Probably not, which is why Americans, per capita, are alarmingly obese.

Studies indicate that sodas cause tooth decay, heart disease, osteoporosis/osteopenia, obesity and may be the primary of cause of various cancers. Americans disregard these warnings and cave to sexy soda ads anyway. Many commercials target our youth and sodas are among the cheapest items in the quick and easy drive-up restaurants that sell giant size sodas and fatty/sugary fried foods. No wonder several generations of Americans, and more notably children, are so fat ~ a majority of teenage boys and girls consume between 3 – 7 servings of soda per day! It is not uncommon for schools to line their hallways with soda machines, placed there by the soft drink companies who pay the school commissions for each beverage sold.

So what's in a can of soda?

Water: The primary ingredient in all sodas is water. There is nothing on the label to indicate that the water used in manufacturing sodas is filtered or purified. Therefore, in addition to the other toxins sodas contain that are added by the manufacturer, the water may not be filtered or purified; it may contain chlorine, metals, bacteria, mold and other carcinogens.

Sugar: Soft drink manufacturers are the largest single user of refined sugar in the United States. After many years of putting high fructose corn syrup and alternative chemical sugar sweeteners into their products, they are declaring that their "new" sodas are more healthy because they only contain natural, real sugar as the form of sweetener – they have come full circle and sodas are STILL unhealthy! Too much sugar overtaxes the pancreas and increases insulin levels, which often causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, obesity (that spare tire around the mid-section), premature aging and many more harmful side effects. Most sodas include over 100 percent of the RDA of sugar.

Caffeine: Caffeinated drinks cause loss of sleep, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeat, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast and ovarian tumors, birth defects, and most likely certain types of cancer.

Phosphoric Acid: May inhibit the bone's ability to absorb calcium or to cycle bone components, making bones brittle. This leads to osteoporosis, osteopenia, softening of teeth and bones. Phosphoric acid also depletes natural hydrochloric acid in your stomach, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and improper digestion of foods.

Aspartame and Sucralose (Equal and Splenda): These chemical sugar substitutes are in "diet" sodas but may also be in "regular" sodas (as if every part of the sweetener industry is getting a piece of the pie!). There are dozens and dozens of harmful side-effects connected to chemical sugar sweeteners, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and other emotional disorders, brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, seizures, and arthritis. When aspartame is kept in a warm closet, stored beyond the expiration date (especially in cans) or left in a car for even a short while before consuming, it chemically alters and converts to formaldehyde and formic acid, which are known carcinogens.

So what am I supposed to drink?!

Try naturally sparkling or mineral waters or purified water. Water comprises fully 75-90% of your body, including your gastrointestinal tract (lack of water causes constipation, lack of absorption of nutrients, dizziness, etc.), eyes (nearly entirely water, lack of this nutrient causes congestion, leading to cataracts, glaucoma, floaters and other eye conditions), organs, including skin, etc. Americans are literally shriveling up and dehydrating themselves to death.

Don't like water? This is the most common complaint we hear and yet we have never met a person who could not get used to something, even water, if they put their mind to getting healthier! Add lemon or lime for flavor and ice it up to a frosty cold, only dump the sodas. They simply are bad for you – besides, you already know that.

Have you ever quit smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, etc.? Well, sugar and chemical sugar sweeteners are not unlike those habits, they can be addictive and can be every bit as harmful, so there you have it...Drinking sodas is an unhealthy habit so it can be changed; you just have to make up your mind to do it!